Florida State aims to break a decade of dominance on Halloween night as a rebuilding Clemson squad debuts new quarterback Chris Vizzina and a reloaded defensive front.
The Clemson Tigers have dominated Florida State over the last decade, winning nine of the last 10 meetings. The Seminoles will have a chance to reverse that terrifying trend when they host the Tigers on Halloween Night.
Except for the COVID season of 2020, Clemson has been a regular opponent on the Florida State football schedule every season since 1992, after first playing each other in 1970. Under Dabo Swinney, Clemson had won nine or more games for 14 consecutive years. That streak ended with a 7-6 mark in 2025.
Despite that anomaly of a won/loss record from a season ago, the Tigers watched as nine of their own were drafted into the NFL, five on defense and four on offense. That tied a school record.
Suffice it to say, Clemson is in rebuilding mode. However, the team is not totally devoid of talent.
Swinney will start a new quarterback for the first time in three years after Cade Klubnik was drafted by the Jets. Chris Vizzina takes over the quarterbacking duties for the Tigers after logging action in 12 games across two seasons, and posting 596 combined passing yards and four touchdowns.
Vizzina will have talented weapons on the perimeter to throw to. T.J. Moore and Bryant Wesco, Jr. return after combining for 107 catches for 1,374 yards and 10 touchdowns.
At running back, Clemson went into the portal to find former SMU player Chris Johnson, Jr. Johnson rushed for 479 yards and four touchdowns for the Mustangs last season.
On defense, Clemson will have returning talent and production at all three levels. On the defensive line, Will Heldt is back after posting 46 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss and 10 quarterback pressures.
Linebacker Sammy Brown is also back after leading the team with 106 tackles last season. He also recorded 13.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and one interception.
In the secondary, Ashton Hampton is one to watch. Hampton logged 45 tackles, one interception, and nine pass breakups.
An area that Florida State could exploit is Clemson’s pass defense, which ranked 119th in the FBS last season. The Tigers allowed opponents 251 yards through the air. With talented receivers Duce Robinson and Micahi Danzy on the perimeter, the Seminoles and quarterback Ashton Daniels could put pressure on the Clemson secondary.
The Florida State-Clemson series has had many notable games, none more so than the 1988 game and the “puntrooskie.” On fourth down and four yards to go with time winding down, and the game tied at 21-21, the Seminoles snapped the ball and handed it off to Leroy Butler, who raced down the field to the Clemson 4-yard line. Florida State kicked a game-winning field goal to escape with a 24-21 victory.
Maybe the Seminoles can conjure up some trick plays to beat Clemson on Halloween night.
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